Jewelry Making

DIY Jewelry, Beads And Patterns

Rejuvenated Jewels: New Designs for Vintage Treasures Book Review

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Rejuvenated Jewels: New Designs for Vintage Treasures by Amy Hanna

  • Hardcover: 128 pages
  • Publisher: Quarry Books (March 1, 2009)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 1592535356
  • ISBN-13: 978-1592535354

Like one perfect decadent chocolate truffle in a little gold box, this book luscious, rich, heavenly and make you want to savor every little bit!

Rejuvenated Jewels, is a book you will be reaching for again and again, not only to drool over the creations but to get inspiration from them as well.  In the into the author wrote “A friend asked me what did I want to share with my readers ?  Did I want this book to teach people how to wire wrap? No. Did I want this book to teach people to use their creativity, to not be afraid to take chances and to believe in themselves? YES!” And that is what this book does.

In Rejuvenated Jewels, readers learn how to create stunning, one-of-a-kind jewelry pieces using various bits of vintage jewelry,  gemstone beads, oxidized metal chains, rosary beads and. Using your own pieces or by scouring flea markets and yard sales you will learn how to rework them into gorgeous conversation pieces that you want to wear every day.

The instructions are written clearly to help beginners enough to get through the projects but also keep the experienced jewelrymakers inspired as well. Because all of the projects use vintage pieces, you probably won’t be able to do an exact replica of any project. Fear not, Amy offers places to search for treasures as well as alternative material suggestions if you can’t find the exact item she uses in a project.

This is a gorgeous and inspiring book for jewelry makers who love vintage. Get a copy, curl up in your fave chair with a pot of tea and some biscuits and spend some time in this book-you’ll be glad you did!

Have you read?

Book Review Wednesday: 3D Beaded Animal Crafts for Kids

This week’s Book Review Wednesday pick is 3D Beaded Animal Crafts for Kids, and I’ll admit this one is another of those books that makes me pause for a moment and ask, “Does this belong in Jewelry Making, Kids Crafts, or somewhere in between?”

Technically, it is not jewelry in the traditional necklace-and-earrings sense, but it is very much a beading book, and beading skills are such a useful doorway into jewelry making. For kids especially, learning how to thread beads, follow patterns, work with wire, and build little 3D shapes is a brilliant way to develop patience, fine motor skills, and confidence with craft materials.

The cover promises 3D beaded animal crafts for kids, with a focus on cute seed bead animals made with wire. The little fox on the cover is exactly the sort of project that catches attention — bright, cheerful, and very giftable. I can see this being a fun book for crafty kids, tweens, grandparents crafting with children, or even adults who secretly enjoy tiny beaded animals but pretend they are “helping the kids.”

What I like about this type of project is that it gives children a finished piece they can actually be proud of. These are not throwaway crafts. A beaded animal can become a bag charm, keychain, desk buddy, zipper pull, ornament, or little handmade gift. And if you have a child who loves collecting small things, well, prepare yourself — you may soon have an entire zoo made from seed beads.

There is also a nice connection here for beginner jewelry makers. Working with beads and wire in a simple 3D form helps build the same kind of careful hand skills used in beaded jewelry, wire wrapping, charms, and small accessories. So while I would be tempted to cross-post this over on our Kids Crafts section, I still think it earns its place here for anyone wanting beginner-friendly beading projects.

This book would suit kids who already enjoy detailed crafts, families looking for screen-free creative projects, or makers who want small bead projects that are playful rather than overly serious. I would suggest adult help for younger children, especially because seed beads and wire can be fiddly, and nobody needs a craft session ending with beads in the carpet forever. Although, let’s be honest, that may happen anyway.

My Shellie-style take? 3D Beaded Animal Crafts for Kids looks like a fun, colourful and practical beading book for young makers who like cute projects with a real finished result. It is crafty, giftable, a little bit nostalgic, and a lovely stepping stone into more detailed beadwork and jewelry making later on.

You can find the book here: 3D Beaded Animal Crafts for Kids.